KingoBad
1327 posts
Jun 19, 2013
12:57 PM
|
I always go alone. For me, it is a musical adventure that takes all of my attention. I want to be free to talk to other musicians and not have to worry about checking in.
If I have been several times and know the lay of the land, I might bring others... I kind of let the culture of the jam dictate if i do after I have learned it...
----------
Danny
|
harmonicanick
1969 posts
Jun 19, 2013
3:00 PM
|
who cares..everyone is different..I am with Kingo, I go on my own and so do most, mr curious..
|
Rick Davis
1985 posts
Jun 19, 2013
5:12 PM
|
At the jam I host we usually get 30 or 40 jammers. Most come alone; sometimes buddies want to be on stage together. Sometimes bands show up and want to do a short set. We accommodate all this if time permits. But my preference is a bunch of good players who I can mix 'n' match into really good sets.
The job of running the jam gets a lot harder when there are lots of players who make requests about who they want to play with.
About half the jammers are regulars or semi-regulars. Like Kingo says, it is a very social thing. Everybody catches up on all the blues community scuttlebutt.
My advice is come as you like, with or without buddies. I think the best jams are pretty laid back. If the host is good he'll make sure you have a good time on stage.
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Jun 19, 2013 5:40 PM
|
Rick Davis
1986 posts
Jun 19, 2013
5:15 PM
|
Note---> If you play a Bassman and your friend is willing to schlep the amp, bring him.
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
|
KingoBad
1328 posts
Jun 19, 2013
9:25 PM
|
Did the OP get deleted?!?
Man, don't do that...
----------
Danny
|
bluemoose
889 posts
Jun 20, 2013
8:57 AM
|
I think the first response was a little harsh and he bailed. I don't blame him. I did offer a delightful tale of our local jam but the damn captcha blew it away and I was too pissed to re-post. I regret that now.
EDIT: actually meant second post but it's one of those 'you can read this many ways' posts.
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
Last Edited by bluemoose on Jun 20, 2013 1:12 PM
|
Nothingcandy
1 post
Jun 20, 2013
9:09 AM
|
Man,
There are more dickheads that pretend to be musicians...so annoying.
@Harmonicanick
If you don't care, don't post to the dude's thread...
I thought this was a cool idea for a thread.
@bluemoose
I'd love to hear what you were going to post and then lost....that sucks when that happens.
|
Greg Heumann
2211 posts
Jun 20, 2013
9:12 AM
|
Related - this came across FB yesterday:
----------
***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
|
harmonicanick
1970 posts
Jun 20, 2013
9:51 AM
|
@NCandy
Sorry if my first post was harsh
Last Edited by harmonicanick on Jun 20, 2013 10:17 AM
|
bluemoose
891 posts
Jun 20, 2013
10:00 AM
|
The Tuesday jam at a nearby pub celebrated it's 7th anniversary this week. I've been going regularly just a few months short of that. At the beginning mostly by myself.
An elderly neighbor has been going just about that long as well but with his son and, now that he's legal, his grandson. Neither of the grandfather or son play at the jam but both do play harp and are quite knowledgable. I sold my first amp to the son.
My eldest daughter is now legal and knows the grandson and his friend (she works at the local coffee cafe and now knows EVERYONE, or so she complains :) and has been attending the last year or so with what classmates, co-workers, friends (and now new boyfriend) she can convince to come down. It can be quite a hipster scene sometimes, but a nice addition to the generally more 'mature' crowd.
My wife didn't used to go down but now that she's semi retired she's realized it's within easy walking distance so she can leave early if she wants and has been rounding up lots of her girlfriends to attend.
So it does end up feeling like you are playing in your living room but with a REALLY good back up band. I get to be the 'really cool' dad to my daughter and her cohorts and get to wink and flirt with my wifes girlfriends and get great feedback from my wife that,yes I know, I'm not playing loud enough.
Plus all the dance partners I can handle, often 3 or 4 at a time!
I go to other jams by myself. It's social, I get some feedback and dancing in now and then but it's not quite the same.
(take that captch, a third time! I cut and paste you like a fish!!!)
----------
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
|
KingoBad
1329 posts
Jun 20, 2013
10:18 AM
|
I'm having a little cognitive dissonance. As the first person to respond, I didn't think I was the slightest bit harsh...
I enjoyed the OP and thought mine seemed out of place without the body of the original. It is a great question.
----------
Danny
|
walterharp
1118 posts
Jun 20, 2013
10:22 AM
|
The more drinkers who are also respectful audience members you bring with you the more the club owner will like you. I thought in general the point is that people bring their friends so they can show off!.. a bit tongue in cheek here, but if the club does not fill up, the jam will not keep being hosted.
|
Nothingcandy
2 posts
Jun 20, 2013
10:26 AM
|
@KingoBad
I think your post was fine, interesting, and insightful.
It was the guy who said, "who cares" that brought the discussion to a halt.
|
Nothingcandy
3 posts
Jun 20, 2013
10:32 AM
|
@bluemoose
Wow, that's a cool jam session you've got going there!
Wish we had something like that in my neck of the woods.
|
harmonicanick
1971 posts
Jun 20, 2013
10:50 AM
|
@nc
yes, sorry about the who cares comment.
I run a jam weekly and go to another very good one every week.
Strangely in my city there are many very good harp players and we have had up to 12 all wanting a spot!
It works very well with a good, fair host. No one is disrespected whatever their ability and all are there to have a good time.
The beer flows and everyone catches up on the gossip.
If you are ever in the uk look us up, you will be welcome
|
The Iceman
928 posts
Jun 20, 2013
1:52 PM
|
Whomever hosts the jam can make or break it.
Lotsa you posters who run jams sound very cool. wish I was in your area.
In Orlando, when I first moved there 13 years ago, local jam was run by the ol' timers super stars blues guys of years gone by. Way too political w/attitude. In other words, unless you were "known" by the powers that be, they would make you wait till 1 AM, even if you signed up at 9:30 PM.
Not much fun.
Ran into something similar in Longwood, CA a while ago. Buddies comin' into the jam later would bump you off the list.
However, a well run jam is a great place to learn, play, network and end up in someone's band.
----------
The Iceman
|
BronzeWailer
1037 posts
Jun 20, 2013
3:58 PM
|
First a whinge. I have a problem with some of the blues jams around town. They can seem like an old boys' club, and it's hard to get on the list. Or you get put on at 11:30. One of my harp mates introduced me to a guitar player whose reaction was stunned silence when he told her I was also a harp player. Plus it's really loud. And I don't like hanging around all night to play three songs then have my ears ringing for 18 hours. I'd rather busk and play 40 songs in three hours.
I've been going to an open mic recently. Not blues, but it occasionally gets played by accident. The first few times I did solo harp instrumentals and harp/singing I developed when solo busking. This jam is quite open and friendly so I jump in whenever I think I can add to a song. It's good training trying to work out what key they're playing in. That's the vibe of the place and it's not frowned upon. I also met a guitarist who only listens to blues and loves SBW II. We are working on a duo act. Jams can thus act as a kind of dating service for musicians.
My two cents worth. (Equivalent to 1.8 US cents at current exchange rates)
BronzeWailer's YouTube
|
